[hen-ui-text variant=”b4″]Employers used to question the value of online MBAs, but that’s changed. In many cases, online degrees are as respected as traditional ones.[/hen-ui-text] [hen-ui-text variant=”b4″]Online MBAs are often cheaper and more flexible. Prices for online MBAs vary, but you can find more affordable programs that charge a few hundred dollars per credit. You also don’t have to leave your job and lose income while studying.[/hen-ui-text] [hen-ui-text variant=”b4″]While some experts argue [hen-ui-link href=”https://fortune.com/education/articles/online-mba-versus-traditional-mba/” target=”_blank”]traditional MBAs have an edge[/hen-ui-link] due to prestige and in-person connections, the value of an MBA ultimately depends on its accreditation, school reputation, and career goals.[/hen-ui-text] [hen-ui-heading variant=”h2″]4 Key Factors to Consider When Choosing an Online MBA[/hen-ui-heading] [hen-ui-heading variant=”h3″]1. Is Your School or Program Accredited?[/hen-ui-heading] [hen-ui-text variant=”b4″]One of the first things most employers check or are aware of is a [hen-ui-link href=”/resources/accreditation/”]school’s accreditation[/hen-ui-link]. If your online MBA is from a school that isn’t accredited, employers may not [hen-ui-link href=”/magazine/employers-online-degrees/”]take your online degree seriously[/hen-ui-link].[/hen-ui-text] [hen-ui-text variant=”b4″]Accreditation ensures that a program meets quality standards. There are two types of accreditation: institutional and programmatic accreditation.[/hen-ui-text] [hen-ui-text variant=”b4″]Institutional accreditation checks a college’s mission, governance, and curriculum to ensure it meets quality educational standards. Programmatic accreditation focuses on a specific program within an institution, ensuring it meets industry standards.[/hen-ui-text] [hen-ui-text variant=”b4″]The following agencies are the top three programmatic accreditors for MBA programs:[/hen-ui-text] [hen-ui-list variant=”unordered” bullet-style=”bullet”] [hen-ui-list-item][hen-ui-text variant=”b4″]Association to Advance Collegiate Schools of Business (AACSB)[/hen-ui-text][/hen-ui-list-item] [hen-ui-list-item][hen-ui-text variant=”b4″]Accreditation Council for Business Schools and Programs (ACBSP)[/hen-ui-text][/hen-ui-list-item] [hen-ui-list-item][hen-ui-text variant=”b4″]International Accreditation Council for Business Education (IACBE).[/hen-ui-text][/hen-ui-list-item] [/hen-ui-list] [hen-ui-heading variant=”h4″]Institutional Accrediting Agencies[/hen-ui-heading] [hen-ui-text variant=”b4″]In the case of [hen-ui-link href=”/rankings/masters/best-online-mba/”]online MBAs[/hen-ui-link], paying attention to institutional accreditation is usually the most important, especially if the MBA program doesn’t hold programmatic accreditation. It’s best to enroll in a school approved by one of the following institutional accrediting agencies:[/hen-ui-text] [hen-ui-list variant=”unordered” bullet-style=”bullet”] [hen-ui-list-item][hen-ui-text variant=”b4″]Higher Learning Commission[/hen-ui-text][/hen-ui-list-item] [hen-ui-list-item][hen-ui-text variant=”b4″]New England Commission of Higher Education[/hen-ui-text][/hen-ui-list-item] [hen-ui-list-item][hen-ui-text variant=”b4″]Middle States Commission on Higher Education[/hen-ui-text][/hen-ui-list-item] [hen-ui-list-item][hen-ui-text variant=”b4″]Northwest Commission on Colleges and Universities[/hen-ui-text][/hen-ui-list-item] [hen-ui-list-item][hen-ui-text variant=”b4″]Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges[/hen-ui-text][/hen-ui-list-item] [hen-ui-list-item][hen-ui-text variant=”b4″]WASC Senior College and University Commission[/hen-ui-text][/hen-ui-list-item] [hen-ui-list-item][hen-ui-text variant=”b4″]Accrediting Commission for Community and Junior Colleges[/hen-ui-text][/hen-ui-list-item] [/hen-ui-list] [hen-ui-heading variant=”h3″]2. How Well-Known Is Your School?[/hen-ui-heading] [hen-ui-text variant=”b4″]Your school’s and [hen-ui-link href=”/degrees/mba/mba-specializations/mba-specializations/does-it-matter-where-you-get-mba/”]MBA program’s reputation[/hen-ui-link] may be an important factor when employers look at your resume, according to [hen-ui-link href=”https://www.linkedin.com/in/alexanderlowry” target=”_blank”]Alexander Lowry[/hen-ui-link], who previously oversaw hiring at a JP Morgan firm and now works in the private sector.[/hen-ui-text] [hen-ui-text variant=”b4″]Lowry considered the following two questions while assessing candidates with online degrees:[/hen-ui-text] [hen-ui-list variant=”ordered” bullet-style=”number”] [hen-ui-list-item][hen-ui-text variant=”b4″]Does this candidate’s school have a strong reputation, especially for producing candidates in this sector?[/hen-ui-text][/hen-ui-list-item] [hen-ui-list-item][hen-ui-text variant=”b4″]Has this firm hired anyone from this school before, and if so, how have they performed?[/hen-ui-text][/hen-ui-list-item] [/hen-ui-list] [hen-ui-text variant=”b4″]Things got trickier when candidates had online MBA degrees from schools off their radar.[/hen-ui-text] [hen-ui-text variant=”b4″]“If it’s a school that’s brand new to us, it’s an unknown,” Lowry said. “That’s not necessarily a mark in [the candidate’s] favor. We cannot know their quality until we’ve hired them.”[/hen-ui-text] [hen-ui-text variant=”b4″]Many companies only target graduates from the top business schools in the country. Lowry said that’s because those schools have built reputations by consistently producing graduates who make a significant difference for the organizations they join.[/hen-ui-text] [hen-ui-text variant=”b4″]But, Lowry said people shouldn’t be discouraged from getting an online MBA, even if it’s from a lesser-known school. An online MBA still meets the demand in other top-tier positions for candidates with advanced degrees.[/hen-ui-text] [hen-ui-text variant=”b4″]“An online MBA checks that box the same way that a traditional on-campus program does,” he said. “Obtaining an MBA in whatever form — whether on-campus or online, whether full- or part-time, whether traditional or executive MBA — is a door-opening credential.”[/hen-ui-text] [hen-ui-heading variant=”h3″]3. Is Your Degree Full-Time or Part-Time?[/hen-ui-heading] [hen-ui-text variant=”b4″]Most online MBA students enroll in part-time programs to pay for school and continue working. Many employers even sponsor employees when they return to school since that training benefits the company, too.[/hen-ui-text] [hen-ui-text variant=”b4″]But here’s the rub: Full-time grads may have the edge over part-time grads in the job market because they tend to have more flexibility after graduation.[/hen-ui-text] [hen-ui-text variant=”b4″]“Major employers searching specifically for MBAs (rather than experienced professionals who happen to have an MBA) tend to focus their efforts on the full-time students,” said [hen-ui-link href=”https://www.linkedin.com/in/scottcsinger/” target=”_blank”]Scott Singer[/hen-ui-link], president of Insider Career Strategies. “It’s easier to just invest recruitment dollars toward the full-timers who have fewer obstacles.”[/hen-ui-text] [hen-ui-heading variant=”h3”]4. Do You Have Big Career Goals After Graduation?[/hen-ui-heading] [hen-ui-text variant=”b4″]An online MBA helps you build on existing skills, gain critical business knowledge, and increase self-confidence on the job. Like any degree, earning an online MBA doesn’t guarantee you’ll land your dream job.[/hen-ui-text] [hen-ui-text variant=”b4″]Lowry believes that MBA students should keep their expectations in check unless they’re attending a prestigious business school. Expecting to land a job on Wall Street right after graduation may be too ambitious.[/hen-ui-text] [hen-ui-text variant=”b4″]“Unless their school is well-known in the region or sector…it’s not a foregone conclusion they’ll land the job they desire,” Lowry said. “The MBA is a door-opening credential. People need to network like a pro to land successfully.”[/hen-ui-text] [hen-ui-text variant=”b4″]Lowry emphasizes that MBA grads may not land their dream job immediately after finishing their degree. For example, you could begin at a top-tier regional investment firm and then transition to a top-tier Wall Street firm after building a network in the industry.[/hen-ui-text] [hen-ui-text variant=”b4″]“That’s a fine career path,” Lowry said. “There are many ways to do it.”[/hen-ui-text] [hen-ui-heading variant=”h2″]Is an Online MBA Right for Me?[/hen-ui-heading] [hen-ui-text variant=”b4″]Online MBAs are legitimate alternatives to traditional MBA programs. They’re cost-effective and can offer flexibility to students who continue to work while studying.[/hen-ui-text] [hen-ui-text variant=”b4″]If you’re looking to advance your career but don’t have the time or ability to attend a traditional in-person program, an online MBA program may be the right option.[/hen-ui-text] [hen-ui-text variant=”b4″]Remember that while an online MBA can open doors, landing the most desired positions may require additional networking and experience.[/hen-ui-text] [hen-ui-dynamic-experience placement=”editorialListings” /] [hen-ui-heading variant=”h2″]Frequently Asked Questions About Online MBAs[/hen-ui-heading] [hen-ui-accordion variant=”no-background”] [hen-ui-accordion-item title=”Is an MBA worth it financially?” expanded=”true”] [hen-ui-text-stack gap=”sm”] [hen-ui-text variant=”b4″]An MBA can lead to higher-paying jobs and career advancement, but its value can depend on the program’s prestige, cost, [hen-ui-link href=”/degrees/mba/mba-specializations/mba-specializations/”]MBA specialization[/hen-ui-link], and your career goals. Top-tier schools usually offer a higher return on investment. Weigh the long-term benefits against immediate costs.[/hen-ui-text] [/hen-ui-text-stack] [/hen-ui-accordion-item] [hen-ui-accordion-item title=”How much does an MBA cost?”] [hen-ui-text variant=”b4″]The National Center for Education Statistics reports that the average annual tuition and fees for an MBA is about $31,266 or $62,532 for two years. Factors like the program and school significantly impact costs, which can differ substantially.[/hen-ui-text] [/hen-ui-accordion-item] [hen-ui-accordion-item title=”What are the disadvantages of anMBA?”] [hen-ui-text-stack gap=”sm”] [hen-ui-text variant=”b4″]Potential drawbacks of an MBA program include hefty tuition fees, student debt, and time off from work, which can result in lost income. Although MBA grads are often successful, according to the [hen-ui-link href=”https://www.gmac.com/-/media/files/gmac/research/employment-outlook/2023_gmac_corporaterecruiters_report.pdf” target=”_blank”]Graduate Management Admission Council[/hen-ui-link] (GMAC), a job or higher salary is not guaranteed.[/hen-ui-text] [/hen-ui-text-stack] [/hen-ui-accordion-item] [/hen-ui-accordion] [hen-ui-section-header title=”Discover More College Resources” /] [hen-ui-article-row variant=”2-col” ids=”1465,1057,9358″][/hen-ui-article-row]